BE BIPARTISAN

Former Gov. Al Quie hopes candidates in this year's election will remember a lesson he learned in his years in state and federal government - bipartisanship.

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Quie, the keynote speaker Monday at the Brainerd Kiwanis Club meeting at Buffalo Creek at the Red Roof Inn in south Brainerd, recalled his experiences as governor from 1979-1983.

He campaigned on three issues: Indexing income tax so people wouldn't be pushed into a higher tax bracket because of inflation; reforming education and streamlining environmental laws.

The House of Representatives at that time was split evenly between Republicans and DFLers, Quie noted.

"I will tell you my mistake I made as governor," Quie said. "All the bills for programs I tried to get through I gave to Republican authors. That was a mistake. I should have divided them up."

Former Minnesota Gov. Al Quie spoke Monday to the Brainerd Kiwanis Club about his political experiences in state and national politics. Quie was in Brainerd to promote his new book, "Riding into the Sunrise: A Life of Faith, Service & Country."

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Quie recalled a speech he gave in 1982 in Moorhead. Roger Moe, the former DFL Senate Majority Leader whom Quie described as his chief nemesis, was in attendance. Quie spoke of the Holy Spirit, and when shaking Moe's hand afterward, he noticed a change in the senator. Later, Quie realized he had changed, too, and the two began working together.

"You can't bring this about in lock step only in your political party," Quie said. "You see how in partisanship you can be harsh in your views and it can prevent the progress that can go on.

"There are people in the Legislature who will take what you call a statesman like way, but it isn't easy. The easiest thing is to go along with the party rather than on the principles you believe in."

Another change Quie would like to see is performance evaluations and retention elections of judges. He said there's been too much partisanship, divisiveness and expensive campaigns in judicial elections. The evaluations would be made public, he said.

"Judges will perform better because they know everyone can see how they perform," Quie said.

Though he intends to vote for John McCain for president, Quie said polling trends show Barack Obama will probably become president. He said he's hoping the election will go smoothly, unlike the 2000 presidential election, and that if Obama is elected he can bring about bipartisan accomplishments.

"That those of us who are on the other side ... will pray for Obama, that he will have the wisdom to balance both the wisdom on the Democratic side and the wisdom on the Republican side," Quie said. "That will be the best for this country."

Following his speech, Quie also answered questions about growing up during the Great Depression, the changes in the political scene from when he served in Washington, D.C., to today and on his passion for early childhood education.

Quie stayed after the Kiwanis meeting to sell and sign copies of his book, "Riding into the Sunrise: A Life of Faith, Service & Civility."

MATT ERICKSON may be reached at matt.erickson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5857.